Page:History and adventures of Jack Mansong.pdf/24

24 fate of the day. He struck Jack on the head with a piece of rock; stunned with the blow, he let go his hold, and fell senseless.

The three then rushed upon Jack ; with the cutlass, they cut off his head, and three finger’d hand,* and carried them in triumph to Marant Bay. Here they put their trophies in a pail of rum, and followed by a vast concourse of negroes, now no longer afraid of Jack's obi, blowing their shell and horns, and firing their guns in their rude manner, they proceeded to Kingston and Spanish Town, and claimed the rewards promised by the King’s proclamation, and House of Assembly.

The victorious Reeder was soon cured of his wounds, and he and Sam having procured their freedom, and the promised reward, live happy; and annually celebrate the joyful event.

Thus fell Three Finger’d Jack, a man perhaps of as genuine courage as ever existed. Had his military fame not been cruelly stopped by the treachery of the king of Bambarra, who consigned him to the horrors of slavery, he, in all human probability, would have lived happy, and been an ornament to his country. Those bright prospects were all blackened by the worst of traffics—

the !—However interested individuals may soften the measure, by specious and plausible arguments, every real Christian, or good moral man must coudemn, the practice!


 * His head and three finger'd hand are now preserved in spirits for the satisfaction of the curious.

FINIS.